PETALING JAYA: Please keep your emotions in check.
This was the call made by Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) deputy president Datuk S. Sivasundaram after a punch-up took centrestage as Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) hammered Perak 5-0 in the Super League match at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri on Sunday.
In the 83rd minute, JDT’s Arif Aiman Hanapi and Perak’s Tommy Mawat Bada got into a fight and the former was seen attacking the latter after a scuffle.
Referee Razlan Joffri Ali handed both the players yellow cards although some felt that both should have been red-carded.
Sivasundram said a hefty punishment could follow after an official report was made by match commissioner and referee assessor.
He did not get into the details but Arif and Tommy could be served with suspension.
A decision will be made within the next few days.
“I see it as a serious incident when punching, shoving and pushing are involved,” said Sivasundram.
Heavily marked: JDT winger Arif Aiman Hanapi trying to navigate his way past Perak’s defenders.
“The players have to control their emotions when they are on the field because whatever they do will only cause problems for themselves,” said Sivasundram, who is also chairman of the FAM referee committee.
Sivasundram will also have to assess whether Razlan has done his job accordingly.
The man in black (Razlan) also will also come under scrutiny over several decisions like denying a penalty for Perak and allowing one for JDT.
Perak felt aggrieved when they did not get a penalty in the 37th minute after it looked like JDT centreback Feroz Baharuddin fouled striker Clayton Silva by clipping him with a high challenge.
Even after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, Razlan stood by his decision of not giving a penalty to Perak.
Perak coach Yusri Che Lah however took the ‘drama’ during the game in his stride.
“We asked why we didn’t get the penalty in the first half. Two VAR decisions had to be made. We didn’t get it, they (JDT) got it. the whole of Malaysia watched it,” he said.
“But in the second half, a lot of refereeing decisions went our way. So maybe, he (Razlan) felt bad for us.
“Humans make mistakes. We forgive him.
“As for the altercation between Arif and Tommy, maybe the referee felt it was fair to give the yellow cards.
“If he had given a red card, it could have led to more aggression. Referee is in charge of the game, so we respect his decision.”
